Volunteer Screening & Training Process
The Diocese of Calgary’s volunteer screening process is designed to Strengthen Our Parish Communities. All Priests, Deacons, Parish staff and Volunteers are asked to commit to the Model Code of Conduct. Once you have reviewed the Model Code of Conduct and the Policies and Procedures, we ask that you please sign and date the back of the Agreement to the Model Code of Conduct and return it to the parish office or drop it in the collection plate. Links to all of the required documents, agreements and policies are located above.
We also require that you complete a Volunteer Information Form. This includes basic information about yourself and lets us know what ministries you are interested in volunteering for. For High Risk ministries you will need to provide 3 references. This can be returned to the parish office or dropped in the collection plate with your signed Agreement to the Model Code of Conduct.
In addition, volunteers over the age of 18 in all parishes working with children and other vulnerable members of our community are required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Police Information Check. Please complete and take both the Police Information Check and the Authorization Letter (please contact the parish office for this) to Lethbridge Police Services along with your photo ID. The cost is $10 with the authorization letter. Without the authorization letter the cost is approximately $65 so please remember to bring the letter to the police station with you. If you wish to be reimbursed for the $10 cost please bring us your receipt.
Volunteers over the age of 18 in all parishes working with children and other vulnerable members of our community participating in any overnight activities are also required to complete an Intervention Record Check. This can be done by going to the Southwest Alberta Child and Family Services Authority located at Suite 200, 400 – 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge Centre Tower, Lethbridge, AB. It is free of charge but they do not send us a copy. You will need to pick it up from the Southwest Alberta Child and Family Services Authority and return it to the parish office.
The Catholic Diocese of Calgary and Praesidium Inc. requires that you participate in our sexual abuse prevention training program through Armatus. Your participation demonstrates your commitment to protecting children and vulnerable persons. Once per year training is required by all of our volunteers and staff working in these areas. Armatus courses can be taken from any web-connected computer. Plan to spend at least 30 minutes to complete each module of the course. To get started please contact the parish office for your Username and Password.
Alternative live group training sessions will take place quarterly at the parish office for those who do not have access to a computer or the internet or prefer to do the session in a group setting. Please contact the parish office to register if you plan to attend the group training. You are also welcome to make arrangements to do the training at the parish office anytime during the week if you are not available for the quarterly live training sessions.
This program has been implemented to ensure that all our parishes are committed to provide safe and caring environments in which to live and grow in our faith. We thank you for your time and talent!